/Old Friends/

The days flew by as Shepard healed, filled with visits from her friends and crewmembers.

More than once, Jack was threatened with removal from the hospital if she didn't watch her language and keep it down – but the orderlies usually had to slink out of the room as she turned her forked tongue and thinly-veiled threats of biotic violence on them. Shepard couldn't help but laugh.

Lt. Commander Ashley Williams, the second human Council Spectre, paid her a visit or two, mainly relaying information from the council, and keep Shepard abreast of what was going on with her family – namely her younger sister, Sara. Spectre business generally kept their visits short.

Tali and Liara T'Soni were constant guests, as well. Being that Liara was the Shadow Broker, Shepard enlisted the help of her agents in assisting with the rebuilding efforts, starting with the mass relays. That was priority one, since FTL travel between systems would take weeks, as opposed to days with the Mass Relays functioning, and there were plenty of people that were needed back on their home planets.

Shepard also had a secondary mission for Liara. This one was to be kept completely secret from the rest of the crew.

Liara's operative, Feron, was to search out any remnants of Cerberus, the pro-Human Supremacy group that had attempted a coup of the Citadel, and whose leader the Reapers had indoctrinated, causing the Citadel to be moved to Earth orbit. Feron was to relay the information to Alliance, Salarian Union, Krogan (namely Arlakh Company), and Asari commando teams.

There was even a visit from Urdnot Grunt, Urdnot Bakara, and her mate, the clan leader Urdnot Wrex with whom Shepard teamed up to take down Saren. Wrex considered Shepard a sister to him, since she assisted the fallen Salarian scientist Mordin Solus with curing the Krogan Genophage on the Krogan home planet of Tuchanka.

As Shepard was chatting with Garrus and Tali, there was a mass of commotion out in the hall. Shouts could be heard, along with running and screaming. There was also a curious pounding sound, as though someone were dropping heavy weights on the floor of the hospital - and they were getting closer.

As Garrus stood up to check the commotion, the door burst open, with the huge body of Wrex filling the doorframe.

"Shepard! " bellowed the giant Krogan "I'd heard they found you and you were laid up. Couldn't miss the chance to see it for myself." As he struggled to fit through the door, Shepard couldn't help herself. "Get some butter!" she said, gasping for air from laughing too hard.

His mate, Bakara, soon followed Wrex into the small hospital room (which seemed to getting smaller by the minute). Bakara had a small box in her hands, and she presented it to Shepard by saying, "To honor you, Commander, as a sister to Clan Urdnot, for everything you've done for us, and for Tuchanka".

Completely surprised, Shepard opened the box. Inside, was a gorgeous necklace made of gold, emerald and ruby. "Bakara, I've never seen anything so beautiful" she said, touched. "I don't know what to say, but thank you."

Bakara replied, "You have given us the greatest gift anyone ever has – the gift of new life by curing the Genophage." Her hands immediately went to her stomach area, with Wrex grinning like the cat that ate the canary.

"Y-you're pregnant!" Exclaimed Shepard, stunned.

"That I am, Commander." The female Krogan replied. "A girl-child."

"Congratulations! What will you name her?" asked Shepard.

"I wanted to discuss that with you, actually Commander." Replied Bakara. "Wrex and I have decided on… Shepard."

"If she's anything like her namesake" Wrex replied, still grinning. "She's going to be a handful!"

As Wrex and Bakara said their goodbyes, another large form took their place. This one seemed even larger. Urdnot Grunt was nearly as large as Wrex now, and just as loud.

"Shepard!" cried Grunt as he walked in. "I knew those Reaper bastards couldn't kill you! Heh, heh, heh.."

For a split-second, she thought Grunt was going to rip her out of the bed and crush her in a hug, but he was surprisingly gentle with her. He placed his hands on hers, and kept it short.

"I'm not good at this, Shepard," the Krogan said "but thank you, for everything. For getting me out of that tank, and helping me find my place."

He turned to follow Wrex and Bakara out the door to head back to their shuttle, but Shepard stopped him. "Grunt," said Shepard "I couldn't have beaten them without you."

"When you're out of there, the noodles are on me." Grunt grinned a mischievous grin.

"As long as we don't set any C-Sec cars on fire this time, you're on." Replied Shepard as the young Krogan left the room.

No sooner than Grunt left the room, another walking wall of muscle entered the room. This time, it was human. Lieutenant James Vega entered and saluted, completely out of breath.

"Slow down, Marine" said Shepard "where's the fire?"

"Ah, hey Lola." Replied James. "I heard you were awake and wanted to come by before I left."

"Left?" inquired Shepard "Where to?"

"I start my N7 Training next month," James said, with pride. "but Javik wants to travel to some of the old Prothean colonies in this sector, and I decided to tag along first."

"Just make sure you're back in time, James." cautioned Shepard. "Congratulations. I can't think of a more deserving soldier, Lieutenant."

Samantha Traynor, Steve Cortez, Gabby Daniels, Greg Adams and Ken Donnelly finished out the visits. They gave Shepard their heartfelt thanks for believing in them, and they told her they couldn't be the people they are today without her influence, guidance and friendship.

As the last visits ended, Garrus was ever by her side. They stayed up late talking - Shepard, asking about Garrus' father and sister, and the rebuilding efforts on Palaven and Menae.

"Solana and my father are doing well. "said Garrus "they're both set helping Primarch Victus with logistics and procurement for the settlements and bases in that system."

"I'm glad" replied Shepard, sleepily "now maybe I'll finally get to meet the famous Talus Vakarian."

"Get some sleep, my love" Garrus replied, quietly "there'll be plenty of time for that."